Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Happy Birthday Kell! Some people would say that you would of been 38 years old today. I would phrase it as you are 38 years old. It has been a busy year. Paige is growing leaps and bounds. She is in school now. I tried to convince her earlier this year that Sylvester could use the computer to email his friends. Her response was perfect and of course left me without words " Cats have paws, not fingers.They can't email" Who am I trying to kid? The baby boy who you already know is getting bigger. He is starting to kick up a storm. Paige kisses ever so gently your sister's tummy and tells the baby she loves him. No worries Kell, I will take care of Paige when the baby is born.

I saw your best friend Rachel yesterday. She introduced me to her little one as Kelly-Anne's mommy. I was so touched! Rachel, like Kim have both assured that their children know who you are. They are keeping your memory and your life alive within their own lives and families. You must be so proud of them.

The house is decorated for Christmas. I take very little credit for this undertaking. Jules with his aptitude for the arts, has to his perfection and joy done an amazing job as always.

Recently, women here in Canada and elsewhere are coming forward and speaking out now about how they have been violated, be it sexual or other by prominent men. It 's about time don't you think that women should be allowed to speak out without feeling that they will face repercussions. I could just imagine you being a journalist and interviewing these women, for many being public figures. You would of been so passionate in supporting them.

I often think about your career path...the what ifs....especially today, I know you would of accomplished so much....where you would of been living...definitely not Quebec. You would of been taken by your travels to remote countries, different cultures, the need to make change and help those less fortunate.

Today, I celebrate your life. A little bubbly tonight with dinner. You continue to touch my life and so many others. You continue from afar to be so present in our lives.

Kim, Joe and Paige with travel soon out west. Paige will wave to you as she flies high in the sky. Wave back please, so she knows you are protecting her.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Her voice as I remember, one that will never fade was clear and to the point. It was an early Friday morning in September as I lay awake contemplating my day. The sun was shining and coming through the blinds and drapes. I lay on my left side and suddenly, there speaking directly into my right ear, I heard so clearly.... Mom ! It's a boy! I quickly turned but no one was there. Kelly-Anne had come and left in a flash of a few seconds. It was her. I laid there stunned and said but it is too early to know. Kim is only a few weeks pregnant. Then I thought, well of course she would know. Look who she hangs out with.

God knows us way before any one else does. Kelly-Anne must of skipped out from Heaven to give me the news. I can just picture her doing so...so typical of Kelly-Anne.

Fast forward to an ultrasound some weeks later and hearing Kim giggle with joy over the phone after seeing the baby. I asked... so was your sister right? Kim said yes it is a boy! I thought I was going to fall off my chair. I was overwhelmed with joy and amazed that Kelly-Anne was right.

This afternoon I needed to take a nap after an exhausting morning downtown. I needed to be up at certain time to receive a phone call. As I awoke and lay in bed my left arm was extended out. There she was again as I looked at my hand, Kelly-Anne tapped on my hand. I felt her presence. She knew I had to make a decision while taking the anticipated call. She wanted me to know that she was near by and supporting my decision.

You can choose to believe my stories. For me, they are real. I have lived this. I believe in God and the work of the Holy Spirit. I believe that Kelly-Anne is with God in his house of many rooms. I believe she is safe and watching over her family and friends.

Monday, October 2, 2017

As a child, well actually for the better part of half of my life, the autumn season consisted of colorful leaves carpeting the streets, the celebration of Thanksgiving with extended family, mom 's turkey roasting in the oven and my birthday. Gathering with cousins, a warm sweater and a fresh breeze while walking in the park are memories that I will never forget.

In 1992, that all changed. My dear father at the age of 71 passed away on Thanksgiving weekend after being stricken with cancer six weeks earlier. The cancer took him very quickly and of course our family was not prepared to loose such a wonderful caring man. Thanksgiving was never the same again. I went through the motions, I cooked, went to church and remembered those that were not here with us. I did it for the girls. As the years passed, it became easier. Dad was never forgotten on the anniversary.

Fast forward to 2004, we buried Kelly-Anne on Thanksgiving Monday. I was numbed for many years after her horrific death. I could not ever allow myself to enjoy the fall season again. I asked myself if I would ever enjoy the autumn leaves, Thanksgiving or my birthday. It wasn't fair to Kelly-Anne that I celebrate. I was suffering from survivor's guilt.

Today, on the week of the thirteenth anniversary of her passing, I can say that I now enjoy the colorful leaves, the smell of a turkey roasting and giving thanks for another birthday and the years that God entrusted Kelly-Anne to me.

Just last week, I encouraged Paige to walk with me through the leaves as we listened to the crunching sound. I said to her that I loved walking in the leaves when I was her age. Well truth be told, I once again love walking on the leaves. It is called healing,....acceptance and living my life the way Kelly-Anne would expect me to.

On this day thirteen years ago, I sat in a hospital negotiating with God, any doctor or nurse that would come into the trauma unit to see Kelly-Anne. I wanted a solution to heal my daughter.

On October 5th the decision to turn off the life support was made. It was an Anglican ethics nurse who I knew that helped me make the final decision. Her words and motions are still clear today as they were thirteen years ago. She stood along side me next to where Kelly-Anne laid. She motioned with her arms over Kelly-Anne showing that what was there lying in the bed was a shell and that her soul had already gone to heaven. It was then that we said goodbye to my beautiful loving daughter.

This week I will shed a tear or two. My daughter did not die in vain. This Friday the rugby community will remember Kelly-Anne with the Kelly-Anne Cup. The game starts at 7:00 p.m at Concordia field on Sherbrooke St. West in Montreal. Each year we designate the donation at the door to Women Aware, an amazing organization helping women who are victims of domestic abuse. Please try to join us.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

I received that dreaded phone call a few weeks ago from an agent at the Parole Board. He told me that the parole hearing is set for September 29th for Kelly-Anne's killer and I could assist if I wanted to or attend through a video - conference. Thirteen years after Kelly-Anne was brutally murdered, her killer is allowed by law a hearing to discuss his possible release for full parole. Can you imagine full parole at 13 years? I still cannot wrap my head around that one.

Our laws in Canada need to be reviewed, discussed and changed. Even if a murderer has no interest in being paroled, the parole board is obliged by law to grant the inmate a hearing at our tax payer's expense. Even if the reports from the case management team tell us that he isn't ready to face our streets, he still gets a hearing. Go figure.

I made a decision. After spending a week where I was so physically sick while writing a compelling, and touching letter to the parole board, I have decided not to participate any further in this fiasco.

Here are my reasons:

1. I trust in God.
2. I trust in the work of the commissioners of the Parole Board who will make the right decision.
3. I will not allow the killer to think he controls me and my emotions by dragging me through his circus.
4. I have no more time to give this killer, nor does he deserve my time.
5. I have better things to do like keep my daughter's memory alive and build awareness about changes needed within our parole laws and of course, domestic violence.
6. I have a loving family and close friends that support my decisions.

A comment :

Doreen as always I read your postings and I grow closer to Kelly-Anne with each word you write. I admire your strength and tenacity and with this posting the six reasons you have decided to embrace shows me why you are my hero. Much love to you as always..

Thursday, August 10, 2017

I can remember the first day of school for Kelly-Anne as if it were just yesterday. She was off to higher learning at kindergarten. I find it interesting how not just for myself, that we tend to remember special, meaningful times in our lives, while others events are simply erased from our memory.

I remember it was a cloudy day. I had shopped for Kelly-Anne and can even see her now clearly sitting on the grass waiting in anticipation for the school bus to arrive. She wore a beige blouse with a Peter Pan collar, a blue plaid kilted skirt, a pair of knee high navy blue socks and a pair of leather
navy shoes with a strap across the foot. She carried a red plaid school bag with a Scottish terrier imprinted on the front of the bag. I remember that I made her a name tag and pinned it to her blouse. I even included the house phone number....no cells in those days!

She was serious about going to school. I remember an expression of deep though and slight wonder as she awaited the bus. There were a few neighbourhood children also waiting. One in particular, a young boy with his mother. His mom assured me that her son would take care of Kelly-Anne on the bus and that he would get her to the right teacher.

Once Kelly-Anne boarded the bus, I felt that slight knot in my throat. There I was with the other moms waving goodbye to our kids.

A few hours later, I waited for the bus to return. There she was smiling ear to ear as she stepped down the stairs from the bus....the beginning of many years of a wonderful school experience.

Now fast forward thirty - three years later, I get to relive that same experience with Paige. I will be with her on the first day of school. I will walk her to the bus stop and wave to her as she starts a new chapter in her life.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Last week I had the pleasure of spending time with my Grand daughter. Between crafts, baking, hair and hospital appointments, making popsicles, the park and splash pad we had a great time. Laughter fills that house and Paige has the spirit and smile to make every one's day just a little brighter.

She is articulate and has quite a vocabulary. She asks alot of questions.We often talk about Aunt Kell. It's a good thing as Paige is slowly getting to know her aunt from afar. Last week I noticed a little red dog which use to belong to Kelly-Anne. She named him Marmaduke and he traveled everywhere with her. Paige loves that little dog and his name. She is now taking care of him.

Much to my surprise Paige ask me in her own words.... " Grandma, why did Aunt Kell die ? I went numb. I didn't know what to say and just quietly said that she just died then quickly changed the subject. I didn't want to say anything more nor felt is was my place to do so.

I remember saying in my victim impact statement in court back in 2006 that I did not know how Kim would ever eventually tell her children about what happened to their Aunt Kell and honestly, today, I still do not know how Kim will manage this task.

It is often said that children observe and retain much more than we realize. Paige is one of those kids. Too advanced for her age. Today's upbringing is different than 30 some years ago. Children learn differently.

Paige asked me to read from her Children's Bible last week. She is asking questions about God. She wants to hear the different stories and wants to pray. She loves to say Amen at the end of the prayers. It is a truly a beautiful age. I love watching her grow and grasping the beauty of life.

We all need to see life through a child, the innocence, the perfection...even running through a splash pad in shorts and a t -shirt can be liberating.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

This week I reconnected again with Kelly-Anne 's favorite sport which is Competitive Life guarding. That reconnection came as a big surprise as I met a man who I spent the better part of a day with who knew Kelly-Anne and traveled in the same circles as she did. They competed at the same competitions and had the same circle of friends. It was amazing to be with this man and to feel at the same time that Kelly-Anne was present with us.

There is always a little part of my heart that gets crushed. This man, just like all her other friends, have married and are bringing up young families....and that is really so beautiful. I am so happy for them, especially when I hear that their children are involved in sports.

My regret is only that I wish Kelly-Anne would of had that same opportunity...to be married, have a career and raise a family. She would of been an amazing mom.

The quiet of my home today allows me to recharge and relax. The pool awaits me this afternoon. I reflect on Kelly-Anne and her enthusiasm for her love of life, the water, the sun.

Life continues and each day brings a joy that allows me to mask the pain. New friends, new accomplishments and new beginnings...I continue to learn and be the best I can.

Pages

My daughter, Kelly-Anne Drummond was murdered at the age of 24 in October 2004. Since her untimely passing, my life has forever changed. My blog will hopefully be of help to other women who are living in abusive relationships. I also will share delightful stories of Kelly-Anne's life and share with you my path as I move forward.

My Daughter, Kelly-Anne

Kelly-Anne and Doreen

About Me

I am Kelly-Anne Drummond's mother. I have worked with families like myself who are secondary victims to homicide. I speak at conferences about violence against women.I believe that no women should be a victim to abuse and that every young women needs to be empowered to be able to make the right decisions without any fear of repercussion.We are all capable of change.Let's break the silence together.